Daud Olatunji
Nigerians grappling with persistent network failures, dropped calls, slow internet connections and disrupted business transactions may get answers as the House of Representatives has summoned the chief executives of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Mafab Communications over the deteriorating quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The lawmakers have given the telecommunications operators seven days to appear before an ad hoc committee investigating the poor services, warning that any chief executive who fails to honour the invitation could face a summons for arrest to compel their appearance.
The summons followed mounting complaints from subscribers over what they describe as unsatisfactory services despite the importance of telecommunications to daily life, business operations and the digital economy.
For millions of Nigerians, unreliable networks mean more than the inconvenience of failed phone calls. Poor connectivity can disrupt online transactions, delay business communications, frustrate students attending virtual classes and prevent customers from completing electronic payments.
Point-of-Sale operators, who depend heavily on telecommunications networks to process transactions, are also vulnerable to network disruptions that can leave customers stranded and businesses struggling to serve them.
The House issued the directive at a public hearing in Abuja on Wednesday after several telecommunications operators invited to the investigation failed to appear.
The committee subsequently directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure that the affected companies comply with the invitation and appear at 2pm on October 28 at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The companies were also instructed to submit relevant documents before the hearing and explain the factors responsible for the decline in service quality, as well as the measures being taken to address subscribers’ concerns.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Sunday Umeha, representing Enugu State, and Afam Ogene, representing Anambra State.
… Subscribers Bear The Brunt
The investigation comes against the backdrop of widespread frustration over unreliable telecommunications services, with subscribers increasingly concerned about the gap between the services they pay for and the quality of connectivity they receive.
For many customers, the frustration is compounded by their dependence on mobile networks for work, education, banking, business transactions and access to essential information.
Poor network quality can leave callers struggling to complete conversations, while unstable internet connections can interrupt video calls, prevent downloads and disrupt online activities.
For traders and small business owners, network failures can translate into lost sales, delayed payments and dissatisfied customers.
The situation also raises questions about consumer protection and the responsibility of telecommunications operators to provide reliable services to subscribers who spend money on airtime, data and other network-related services.
However, the specific causes of the reported deterioration, including the extent to which infrastructure constraints and other operational challenges may be responsible, are expected to be addressed by the companies during the lawmakers’ investigation.
Reps Fault Telecom Chiefs’ Absence
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Olumide Osoba, said telecommunications services had become indispensable to Nigeria’s economy, stressing that their importance extended beyond making calls and accessing the internet.
According to him, businesses, financial transactions and Point-of-Sale operations depend significantly on reliable telecommunications networks.
